#helect cyoa

[whump-in-the-closet]

13. How it's Done.

previous.

cw: forced to hurt, knife cuts, torture, inhuman whumpers

You look at the knife and then at Valian.

They stay silent.  

The eyes of all three agents are on you, watching with a calculation that hides exactly how much they’re enjoying this. 

There’s no way out of this. The horror leaves a taste in your mouth like death. But what can you do? You can try not to step on the blood as you cross the grass. So you do. The walk is over far too soon. Before you know it, the knife is glinting in the light, hovering over Valian’s back. 

Valian is shaking, forehead pressed into the tree. Braids fall around their face and you find that you’re grateful you don’t have to look them in the eye as you do this. 

A small mercy. 

“I’m sorry,” you whisper. 

Steel and blood. 

No answer. 

You trace a thin line down Valian’s shoulder with the blade. It’s enough to draw blood, but more of a scratch than anything. 

Behind you, there’s a hiss of displeasure. 

So you drive another line into Valian’s skin. 

You hear a hiss that’s more of a growl. The sound echoes like it comes from a cavern. 

Another scratch. 

“Stop.” 

You freeze, and a drop of scarlet blood rolls down the edge of the blade. It continues on its path down your wrist. Down your wrist, along your arm. 

“You have failed to show your fealty to us and to the Council.” You’re pretty sure it's the leader who’s speaking. Her voice doesn’t echo, or burn. It’s deeper than both of the others. You’ve heard stories of the god of death as a child and you think this is what death would sound like. 

Monotone. 

Horrifying. 

A creeping warning in every one of her words. 

You turn slightly, clutching the blade with sweaty hands like it’s a lifeline. Why are the corners of your vision darkening? 

You’re not that scared. 

Yes. Yes, you are. 

The agents stare down at you. Judge, executioner, and jury. All with four arms. The leader waves Solis forward and she takes the knife from you. 

She grabs the knife by its blade, and though it cuts her, there is no blood. She smiles, showing all her teeth. 

“Let me show you how it's done.” 

It happens so fast, it's a blur. The knife is a flashing blur of steel and Valian’s back is nothing but red.

Your vision is red. And black. You can’t watch this. 

Solis rips open Valian’s back. Shreds it like its paper. A whip couldn’t inflict more damage than Solis with the knife. 

You’re vaguely aware of Valian’s choked cries. The roaring in your ears muffles most of the screams. 

Behind you, a voice echoes. “Watch this. Do not look away. After Solis is done, your own suffering will commence.” 

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whatwhumpcomments, @whumpycries (lmk if you want to be added/ removed!)

#helect cyoa #fantasy whump #interactive whump #no editing we die like men #whump writing #valian is in so much pain rn #hehehe #that was an evil laugh #cw forced to hurt #cw torture #cw knives #cw knife cuts

[kira-the-whump-enthusiast]

Day 7 - Favorite Whump Fic

Oh god I'm only gonna put recent faves here cuz otherwise we are gonna be here forever.

Penumbra by @whumpflash is my absolute favorite. All the characters are perfect and the whump is on point and I just love it and I reread it all the time :D

Eden and Our Man Flint by @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night have both genuinely made me cry. They hurt. They're amazing. I love these stories so much.

@whump-in-the-closet's CYOA with Helect and Valian is like 😭 my heart. I love these guys so much. I delight in their suffering but at the same time give them a break. But yeah this is really good!! Agh I literally can never get this story out of my mind.

The Monster of Lindborough by @secretwhumplair is my absolute favorite. Joy is precious and I love him so much. This series is like an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. I have reread it quite a bit.

And last but not least things end | people change by @whumpcloud!! All the characters are blorbo shaped and I am in love with the writing style. I reread the chapters all the time cuz aaaaa my beloveds.

These are just the first ones that come to mind,,, whump fics my beloved. I'm gonna go cry over these ones now

#whump #wij23day7 #whumpmasinjuly2023 #whump recs #I should prolly make a more complete list with all time favorites #but like. there's too many #kira talks

[kira-does-art-sometimes]

Valian and Helect from @whump-in-the-closet’s CYOA story!!! Love these guys so I had to draw my headcanons for their appearances :D

@whump-queen @shydragonrider @imnotamurdereripromise @eric-the-bmo

#my art #digital art #illustration #procreate #artists on tumblr #oc art #other’s ocs #soft shading #portrait #they’re both tpoc cuz I say so

[whump-in-the-closet]

12. Burning and Suffering, etc.

previous.

cw: sadistic choice, inhuman whumpers, burning, blood, you've gotten yourself in a bad position oops

You can see terror in Valian’ eyes, and you’re worried it’s a reflection of your own gaze. “I was looking for them,” you whisper. 

Triumphant grins are exchanged over your head. The Council’s agents draw closer. “Louder. Say it louder.” 

“We didn’t quite hear you.”

You keep your gaze on the ground. It turns out this isn’t the best idea either, because there’s blood on the grass. 

Probably Valian’s. 

Yours might be next. 

You feel suddenly and violently sick, the words falling dead on the ground beside you. “I was looking for Valian.” The sentence is a confession, an admittance of a wrong you didn’t know you had committed. 

Valian’s expression changes, lifting slightly. 

The one with lightning in her eyes hisses sharply. “They were planning on intervening!” The words sound like wind in the trees. 

The leader strokes the top of Valian’s head, making them wince and try to curl in on themselves. She appears to be considering the accusation. 

“Our time is nearing an end with the traitor.” the third agent, the one with an echoing voice, crosses the ground to tower over Valian. “Should we leave them both?” The way she says it sounds like a threat. 

“But this is an unusual circumstance! The Council said if there is an unusual circumstance we should bring the traitor home.” Eyes flash like lightning in a storm. 

“Peace, Solis. You speak recklessly.” This is the first time you’ve heard the leader speak. You shudder, the hair on your arms standing on end. She glances from you to her other companion. “Keres, you wish to leave them?” 

“Our contract was with the traitor only.” Echoing words. “But, as always, I defer to your decision.” 

“Bring them to me.” 

Solis– the one with lightning eyes– pushes you forward. Before you fully realise what’s happening, there’s a boot on your back and you’re kicked to the ground. 

Terror sprouts like weeds inside your chest, and you’re choking on them. You can feel grass in between your fingers and you can see the edges of the Council agents’ cloaks. You think you can see bloodstains on the fabric. 

You’re on your hands and knees before the agents. You wish the ground would swallow you whole. You wish you had never found Valian. You wish– 

“Helect, isn’t it?” 

When you don’t look up, the leader crouches down. She tilts your head up with a single finger– a single, scorching finger. 

Her hands aren’t physically on fire, but they burn. When you try to pull away– it’s instinctive–she grabs your chin. Now there are five separate places where you’re burning. 

Pain spreads in spider-webs down your throat and face, and you didn’t think you’d cry so easily, but you’re sobbing. You know that as soon as the hand pulls away, you’ll be left with six aching marks on your skin. 

“You have a bounty on your head, Helect. You helped a traitor. You tried to intervene on official Council business.” 

You just want the burning to stop.

“I’m afraid Solis is right. We must bring you to the Council.” She stands, abruptly letting go. 

You clamp a hand over your jaw, trying to stop the leftover remnants of curling pain that remain behind. Your world is collapsing around you and all you can think of is the burning-white. 

“However, I will give you a chance to lessen your judgement.” There’s the sound of unsheathed metal and a silvery knife drops to the ground. 

You pick it up with shaking hands. “What? What am I supposed to do?” You can hardly form the words. 

That's when you notice Valian is no longer beside her. 

The corners of her mouth lift in a thin smile and she gestures to where Valian is now. They’ve been tied to a tree, forehead pressed against the trunk. Their shoulders rise and fall at a ragged pace. 

Through the gaps in the trees, early sunlight falls on them in patches. 

You stare at the blade. The burning makes it hard to think clearly. “What-- What do I do?” 

Again, that smile. Wolfish. Hard. 

It's not the leader who answers, but Solis. Her eyes burn fever-bright. “Show your fealty. Hurt the traitor or we’ll make you wish you had. All before we drag you before the Council. They won’t mind if you’re a little damaged.  And then after, we’ll make you wish you died here.” 

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whatwhumpcomments (lmk if you want to be added/ removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #whump cyoa #whump writing #guess who's in for a rough time #everyone is #ha #its a whump cyoa afterall

[whump-in-the-closet]

8. Deserve It

previous.

cw: breaking fingers in order to reset them, medical whump, victim blaming, not-the-best-caretaker

You don’t respond to Valian's unexpected tears. Instead you gesture for them to lift up their damaged hand. 

After a brief hesitation, they lift up their right hand. Their pointer and middle finger are both swollen– clearly once broken and left untreated to the point where they had healed into twisted shapes. 

You find you can’t look Valian in the eyes. “I’ll have to break them again to set them properly.” 

Valian jerks their hand away from you and pulls it close to their chest. “You have to do this?”

You nod. 

They’re no longer close to tears, but their voice shakes. “You want to do this?” 

You start to nod then stop. The question itself is odd and you can’t shake off the feeling that Valian meant something else by it. 

“Your fingers are broken, yes I want to fix them. Unless you think you can manage it in your, ah, current state.” You’re tired and perhaps your words are sharper than they need to be. 

When there’s no answer, you fetch the materials necessary. 

Valian extends their hand, trembling. 

“I understand,” they say as you take hold of their wrist and twist their hand into the light. “I deserve this after how I have treated you. Even this,” they looked at their broken fingers, “ is kinder than I deserve.”

You almost let go of their hand. “I don’t want to hurt you!” As soon as you say this, another voice whispers, “Don’t you?”  Don’t you want Valian to feel what you went through? Yes they had suffered, but are you going to deny that causing Valian pain will make you feel better?

You swallow hard. You really aren’t handling this well. 

Valian stares blankly ahead but they grip the blanket with their good hand, widening it around and around until their knuckles turn white. 

“Go ahead,” they whisper. “I deserve it.” 

You spit out a response. “You deserve to have fingers that work properly. I’m sorry I don’t have the proper medications, but I swear to you I am not doing this because I want to hurt you.” You’re beyond frustrated. Why can Valian not understand this simple concept? 

Before Valian can answer, you snap their finger to the side, rebreaking it. They don’t scream, but the sudden silence is worse. 

You bind the finger between two stiff pieces of wood, wrapping the bandages tighter than they need to be. You repeat this process as quickly as you can on their second finger. 

This time, Valian hisses in pain.

When you look at them, they’re breathing in shallow gasps. You let go of their hand. 

“Done.” 

Valian sits on your cot and doesn’t meet your gaze. “You’re very kind, Helect,” they whisper. 

You almost laugh. You know it's not true. 

tagging: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast , @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday (lmk if you want to be added or removed)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #whump cyoa #whump writing #i did absolutely no research on accurate medical techniques for this #so if its inaccurate i apologise im exhausted and didnt have the energy to bother #it sounded about right #anyway enjoy some angst

[whump-in-the-closet]

10. Council's Agents

previous.

cw: inhuman whumpers, implied torture, begging, Valian has a bad time as per usual

You pull your jacket-turned-pillow around your shoulders, staring at the open door. On one hand, you don’t really want to go outside and brave the cold. On the other, you want to make sure Valian is alright. 

They could be fine. Or not.

You might as well make sure. You stand, wrapping your cloak tighter around yourself and make for the door. 

“Valian?”

Aching, early morning silence is your only response. 

Soft light spreads in grey on the branches of the trees. A bird explodes from a burst of green with a shrill cry before silence descends upon you again. 

You almost miss it at first– the sound of crying, broken words jumbled together in some semblance of begging– but you don’t miss it the second time. 

You only wait to make sure you still have your knife at your belt. Drawing it, you make your way through the trees. The blade is a spike of silver in your hands, sharp against the muted colours of the forest. You don’t realise you’re holding it in with a white-knuckle grip, heart in your throat and refusing to leave. 

And the entire time, the broken crying continues. It’s as muted as the colours. 

Grey light fades to blue before you find Valian. Rather, you find what has Valian.

You catch a glimpse of black clothing and empty eyes and you whirl behind a tree, slipping down the trunk. 

The knife is shaking in your hand as you turn around to look again at the scene you had arrived at too late to stop. 

Valian had said the Council’s agents were after them. 

You just didn’t know they would arrive so soon. 

You had forgotten how empty their eyes were.

Three shapes stand in the shadows of the trees. Four pairs of spidey limbs and with dead smiles. Burning hands. 

 And Valian kneels before them, their blanket discarded on the ground behind them. Their bandages are blood-stained. You’re hoping– god, what a terrible thing. To hope– but you’re hoping it’s because the injuries have been reopened, and not because new ones have been inflicted. 

One of the agents crouches next to Valian and you notice that her hairstyle, braided back away from her face, is nearly identical to Valians. Coincidental. Except that even the tiny beads are the same. 

Not so coincidental. 

“Someone is watching,” says one of the other agents, her voice echoing like she is in a cavern. She doesn’t look at you, but she knows you're there. Somehow. 

Your heart drops from your throat to your stomach. 

The agent rests one of her four hands on Valian’s head and stands. “Care to join us? We didn’t wish to wake you earlier.” Her voice sounds wrong, somehow. You catch a glimpse of teeth sharpened into points as she smiles.  

Valian curls in on themselves. 

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whatwhumpcomments (lmk if you want to be added/removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #whump writing #inhuman whumper #the councils agents are so much fun #they're so evil #rip to valian. yet again #whumpblr #whump #whump community

[whump-in-the-closet]

14. Collars in the Shape of Hands

previous.

cw: burning, failed escape, inhuman whumpers

Your vision blurs, choked with the sight of Valian’s blood and flashing steel. You can’t watch this. You– 

You panic. And the world panics with you, slipping away and blurring into vague, indistinct shapes. You run, heart ripping apart your throat– you don’t think an internal organ is supposed to be there, but you brush it aside– you have to run. 

You have to get out of here. 

The ring of trees that’s a fuzzy line of green means freedom. Safety. You draw close, panic turning to exhilaration. You’re going to make it. You’re going to be safe. The thought settles comfortably inside you, all dull edges and warm fall colours. 

You never make it. 

You never had a chance. 

Keres materialises directly in front of you, coming up from the grass with the finality of a mountain. 

Fall colours fade to winter and despair. 

Grinding to a stop, you try to backpedal– you still have a chance to reach the woods. To escape this nightmare of a clearing– 

Keres tilts her head and gives you a paper-thin smile. A smile that says, “Hey, congratulations, you messed this up splendidly. Good for you for being so bold and so utterly stupid.” Really, who needs words when they can smile like that? 

Someone grabs your shoulders from behind, grip tightening with an impossible strength. No human should be able to make your bones feel like they’re about to turn into powder. 

Solis drags you back to the middle of the clearing. In a final fit of resistance, you dig your heels into the ground, leaving scratch marks in the grass. 

Solis drops you. Pieces of green grass twist between your fingers and wrap around your wrist. 

Voices echo like they're coming from the end of a very long tunnel. “You shall regret that.” 

“Helect, you should not have tried to run.” Mocking. “But, alas, that is your loss.” 

It’s Solis who hauls you back to your feet. There are flecks of Valian's blood on her face. She doesn’t let go of your collar, but twists it to the point of choking. 

Leaning in close, she whispers, “Have you ever been in so much pain, death seems like a mercy?” 

The lightning in her eyes seems like an entire flashing storm. The air contracts with suppressed energy. 

She slips into an old way of speaking. A hymn. A threat. “Prepare thyself.”

“For– for what?” 

Solis raises two of her four hands and the light catches on the dead skin. Then you realise it's not sunlight on her skin, but white flames. Her hands are on fire. 

And she smiles. “For this.” 

Terror spikes through you, filling every nerve in your body with a silent scream. You try to wrench away, fighting with the strength of a trapped animal. 

Keres grabs your wrists in a vice-like grip. With another hand, she grabs a fistful of your hair and yanks your head back. 

You stare at the sky through the tree branches and wonder if it's the last time you’ll see the sun. 

Flashing red wings. 

Cicadas buzzing.

The green of the forest. 

Don’t think about the burning--

The sound of sizzling hits you first, then the pain. 

Solis’s hands are around your throat, forming a collar of fire. 

The sunlight beats down on you as you scream. Back arched, clawing for even the slightest relief. 

The first scream is choked, strangled and half-swallowed. It rips at your throat, crawling out of your mouth and falling dead beside you. 

Just like your dignity. 

You never had a high pain tolerance. 

“Oh, be quiet,” snaps Solis, withdrawing her hands. But the burns remain. A mark that won’t heal and is unable to be hidden. 

Burns in the shape of a collar. 

Keres lets go of your wrists and you sink to the ground. Your vision blurs– worse than before. 

Unconsciousness is a mercy you would beg for. 

You slip further into the grass. 

Bare feet appear in the corner of your vision and Valian crouches next to you. Their bottom lip is shredded, blood dried to their face. They're really not much better off than you are.

There’s concern in your eyes, but it’s darkened by fear. “You should stand up for this next part,” they whisper. “Do you need help standing?” 

Nausea rises up with an unbidden horror. The agents aren’t finished?

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whumpycries (lmk if you want to be added/removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #whump writing #whump cyoa #cw burning #cw torture #cw inhuman whumpers #helect is gonna suffer so badly #ask and ye shall receive #this was actually kinda fun to write #methinks helect should suffer more eh? #some of you were shouting for helects blood and i am five hundred percent with you on that

[whump-in-the-closet]

15. Fear Tastes like Pine

previous.

cw: whipping (implied), burns (mentioned), inhuman whumpers

Valian slips an arm around you, helping you stumble to your feet. You want to push them away– but without their help, you would collapse. Your knees threaten to give out at the slightest increase of pressure.

So you cling to Valian and hope they can’t see your face. 

With so little distance between you and them, tiny details stand out.

Flecks of crimson blood on their hands.

Bitten down nails.

The sound of uneven breathing.

Singed flesh.

A stark-white thread that’s unravelled and floats into the air, drifting lazily. 

You focus on these details and try to drown out the agent’s voices. Try to drown out the unforgettable click, click, click of leather against the ground. 

Valian shudders against you. 

“Is it…?” The question is left unfinished, a whisper choked with old memories of chains and cells and running.

The burns around your throat fade in comparison. 

Valian whispers something in your ear– the roaring in your head blurs out the words but you think it amounts to ‘Stay strong’. 

The comfort is more than you ever gave them.

You don’t have time to regret how you treated them because one of the agents–you think it’s Keres– rips you away from Valian. 

The world fractures into silver-lined green. Silver-lined terror. An explosion of panic in your chest, twisting your ribs with the force of it. 

You’d forgotten the taste it leaves in your mouth. 

Cotton. Tastes like cotton. 

You’re half-dragged across the ground before coming to an abrupt stop. Keres grabs your wrists, yanking them up until you’re on your knees, face pressed into the tree trunk. Your burn brushes against the rough wood and it's all you can do to keep from screaming. 

An ant crawls over the bridge of your nose as Keres ties your hands around the tree. She steps back, calling over her shoulder for Solis.

You yank at the ropes. 

A futile effort to escape. 

Heart in your throat. Vision starting to peel apart– when did the fear stop tasting like cotton and start tasting like pine? 

Tree bark. Focus on tree bark. On anything else. On the way the ropes feel. On—

The crack of a leather whip in the air knocks all coherent thoughts away. 

Fear tastes like pine needles and salt tears. 

“Count,” says Solis and raises the whip. 

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whatwhumpcomments, @whumpycries (lmk if you want to be added/removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #whump writing #fantasy whump #whump cyoa #whump #inhuman whumpers #cw whipping #this took me way too long #also whats a cyoa if it doesnt have a flogging scene #technically this isnt a flogging scene #but perhaps the next installment shall have a bit more actual whump

[whump-in-the-closet]

2- Help

previous.

cw: implied torture, bruises

You freeze at the sound of your name. You can’t remember the last time you’ve heard it, and you’re caught between terror and surprise. 

Filtered moonlight breaks through the treetops as the figure uncurls some more. Your first thought is that they’re reaching for a weapon and you back away, hand flying to your own knife. 

But all they do is crawl forward, leaves and dirt dragging on the edges of their cloak. “Helect? It’s me!” 

Your hand doesn’t leave your knife. 

The moonlight only serves to highlight how bad of a state they’re in. Their arms, where they show through their ripped sleeves, are bruised and cut. You could have sworn they’re trembling, but you can’t tell for sure. They look up, desperation in their eyes. They stumble over their words. “It’s me, Varian.” 

You don’t doubt it is them. Their very name speaks of noble lineage and court life and rich fruits and marble pillars. It speaks of lies and betrayal. 

You don’t know if you can trust them, but you’re suddenly dizzy, the ground spinning out from underneath you. 

“Help me,” whispers Varian, “please?” 

A noble? On their hands and knees, inches in dirt and filth? You don’t believe it. It’s too much to swallow. 

Warnings go off in flashes. Could it be a trap? A distraction? Are there soldiers surrounding you as you speak? 

But could those bruises be merely an artist's skillful work? 

The forest is silent.

“What–” you infuse as much hatred as you can into your question,”-- are you doing here?” 

Valian wheezes, breath rattling in their throat. “They turned on me…” That’s as far as they get. Their arms give out on them and they collapse, face-first, into the dirt. You’re pretty sure they’re unconscious. That seems awfully dramatic for a simple distraction. 

You check the clearing one last time before coming to the conclusion that it’s not a trap. Which means Valian really is alone.  

tagging: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast

#whump cyoa #helect cyoa #whump writing #interactive whump #implied torture #bruises

[whump-in-the-closet]

11. Negotiation is Not Your Strong Suit

previous.

cw: blood mention, injury mention, inhuman whumpers, knife mention

Your hands are shaking as you step out from behind the tree, palms outward. You drop your knife, and it lands on the grass with a soft thud. 

“Can we not discuss this in a civilised manner?” 

Two of the Council’s agents shift forward, their cloaks dragging behind them. One stays behind, watching you with empty eyes. She keeps a hand resting on Valian’s head. 

Valian. 

They keep their eyes on the ground, but even from this distance you can see that their breathing is far too fast and far too ragged. You think they’ve been crying, but it's hard to tell. 

You’re far more concerned with your own fate. 

One of the agents– she has white hair like a cloud and lightning in her eyes– picks up your knife, testing the blade against one of her fingers. Not a single drop of blood appears though she stabs it deep. She smiles. “I think it’s very uncivilised of you to invite yourself here.” 

Her companion nods. “Very unhealthy.” She begins to circle you and you’re left with the distinctly uncomfortable impression of a hawk circling a small forest creature. Your skin crawls at the thought. 

“I– I hope we can come to some agreement. I did not mean to interfere.” 

Valian muffles a sob. 

“Did you not come to rescue them?” The agent with lightening eyes gestures to Valian. 

You frantically shake your head, a lie on your lips. But as you do so, you catch another glimpse of Valian. 

They’ve been pulled to their feet. The Council’s agent now has two hands on them– one still on their head and the other gripping the back of their shirt collar. They look like they can hardly stand, crimson blood rolling down their arms and dripping onto the grass. Their eyes are red and puffy but they’re shaking their head at you. 

“Did you not come for your friend?” the agent repeats. The words bite at you, and you flinch back, bumping into another agent. She looks down at you, tilting her head to the side.  “Answer us.” Her voice echoes in a way that is so far removed from anything human that you’re left shaken.

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whatwhumpcomments (lmk if you want to be added/removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #inhuman whumpers #whump writing #whump #this one is shorter sorry #i need more caffiene like rn. right this very instant #almost fell asleep writing this hah #i love how pathetic valian is though i love them so much #also helect better be careful here or they might end up in the same boat as valian #wouldnt want that now would we #*insert evil laugh*

[whump-in-the-closet]

9. Vanish

previous.

cw: reluctant caretaker, emotional whump

With Valian’s words echoing in your head, you try to pull yourself together. You can’t stand to hear praises of your kindness, your mercy– lies. All of them, lies. 

The bitterness fades when you glance at Valian. They’re clutching the blanket in a white-knuckle grip with their good hand.

They look up at you and then at the blanket. “Oh. This is yours, sorry. You probably do not want me to touch it. I might get blood on it.” They hand the blanket to you before you have a chance to respond. 

You take the blanket, the fabric rough in your hands. It's made out of an old cloak, threadbare in some places. (Your attempts at sewing it into a blanket were childishly pathetic).

Valian tries to stand. Tries to smile. Begins to apologise again– or to thank you. You don’t want either. 

“Sit back down,” you say. When they do so, suddenly silent, you drape the blanket over their shoulders. You try to say so much with that gesture. It’s an apology. It’s an admission that you won’t let them get hurt. You haven’t forgiven them, but…what you can’t say with words, you try to say with a blanket and awkward silence. 

They clutch the blanket close, fingers wrapping around the edges of the fabric and pulling it tighter around them. They sit on the edge of your cot, bandages hidden by the blanket. Valian starts to say something again, but you cut them off with a sharp gesture. You don’t think you can bear to hear another ‘thank you’. 

“Enough. I’m sorry for what I said earlier. But you should get some rest.” 

Valian hesitates. “Here?” 

“Yes. Here. Where else?” 

“I– is this not your bed? Helect, I cannot sleep on your bed,” says Valian. 

“You can and will be sleeping on the bed. Good night.” You're too tired to argue the point any further.

Valian doesn’t answer, but watches as you move to the fire pit. You roll your jacket into a semblance of a pillow and turn your back on Valian. You don't think they’ll try to murder you. You’re pretty sure they won’t. Though you’ve been wrong about matters like this before. But you don’t want to look at Valian any longer. They’ve changed in ways you didn’t know possible. You shove down the suggestion that you’ve also changed. 

You fall asleep with the light of the dying fire on your face and uneven wood digging into your side.

When you wake up, cold air is blowing through the floor and Valian is gone. 

You sit up. 

The blanket you gave Valian is also gone and the door is open, swinging on its hinges.

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot (lmk if you want to be added/removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #whump cyoa #fantasy whump #whump writing #reluctant caretaker #this one isnt really whumpy #and its kinda short #but dont worry the whump will increase #especially if the councils agents appear #then no one is in for a good time

[whump-in-the-closet]

Helect CYOA Masterlist.

(inspired by whump cyoa stories by @whumpsday and @painsandconfusion)

You have been exiled for murder and have lost all claims to civilization and the life of a noble. When you stumble across the very person who was responsible for the charge brought against you, what do you do? Revenge could be yours, but they've already been gravely wounded...

cws in the individual post

Not Alone

Help

Fire

Nowhere to Go

The Tables Have Turned

Bandages

What's Wrong?

Deserve It

Vanish

Council's Agents

Negotiation is Not Your Strong Suit

Burning and Suffering, etc.

How it’s Done

Collars in the Shape of Hands

Fear Tastes like Pine

taglist: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth, @whumpsday, @whumpinthepot, @whatwhumpcomments, @whumpycries (lmk if you want to be added or removed!)

art!!! (by kira-the-whump-enthusiast)

#sorry for tagging you guys when there's no update #ill be posting the next part soon though #i just wanted to have all the parts in one spot so i didnt have to search everything up #masterlist #whump cyoa #helect cyoa

[whump-in-the-closet]

7. What's Wrong?

previous.

cw: injury description with blood, bad caretaker (kind of), implied past torture

-

“Valian, sit down. You can’t handle the Council in your current state.” 

Valian doesn’t move from where they’re standing, swaying on their feet. “But–”

“Please, no more of the Council.” You do not want to think of the Council, or the Council’s unearthly agents. You think you might be sick if you do. You’d rather do anything than discuss the Council. 

One of Valian’s bandages slips off their arm, already blood-stained. 

“I thought you said you could apply bandages,” you say.

 Something like frustration edges Valian’s words. “It’s hard with only one hand!” It’s the first time they’ve spoken without fear. They slump against the wall. 

When you rest a hand on their shoulder, they flinch, and when you lead them past the open fire, they flinch again, but they sink to the cot without a word. 

“Will you let me help?”

Valian swallows hard, the momentary frustration gone as quickly as it had appeared. They nod. 

Working quickly, you try not to think of how the bandages are already bloodied. Or how the injuries range from scratches to thin lacerations– deep and bruised. Or how they spread up Valian’s arm, twisted together in a pattern that resembles spiderwebs. 

You try not to think of the scars you have, healed in the same spiderweb pattern. 

You try not to think at all. 

Valian keeps their eyes on the opposite wall. They don’t talk and neither do you. When you finish cleaning and bandaging their arm, they pull it close to their chest, doubling over. 

This frightens you. Did you do something wrong? Did you hurt them by accident? Did you– “Are you alright? Valian, what did I do?”

“Nothing.” Their voice shakes. “Nothing.” 

“You’re crying.” You realise it as you say it. 

Valian looks up, vision blurring. “I wasn’t expecting help. I– I truly wasn’t expecting this. You rightfully despise me, I am bringing your old enemies to your doorstep, and I am in no way able to help– I can’t pay you for your kindness–” they break off, doubling over again. 

You pull back, unsure of how to respond. Only minutes ago, you had regretted ever bringing them here, but now you’re at a loss. You aren’t sympathising with Valian, you aren’t. You are not. You simply will not throw them out of your cabin. That isn’t kindness— it's not. You don't know what it is but it's not kindness.

It's not. You aren't kind.

The Council made sure of that.  They took every good part of you and twisted it until there was nothing left but a screaming void.

Like they did to Valian. You think that's what they did.

Stop thinking.

You aren't kind.

tagging: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth (lmk if you want to be added or removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #whump cyoa #whump writing #i really need to update this more than once a week #sorry this takes so long guys

[whump-in-the-closet]

6- Bandages

previous.

cw: blood, injury mention, inhuman whumper mention

-

Without really knowing why you’re helping Valian, you grab the bucket full of water by the entrance and carry it over to where Valian is crouched. You were going to use it to wash the dishes, but you suppose you can fetch water from the creek tomorrow. 

They pull their gaze away from the fire to look at the bucket, their expression unreadable. 

“One moment,” you say. You have bandages– you needed them when you first arrived, and you kept a supply since then. But when you hand them to Valian, they only stare at the roll of cloth. 

“I…I do not understand, Lie– Helect. What do you wish me to do with these?” 

You can’t tell if this is meant to be a joke or not. You hope it’s a joke. “You’re injured. There’s…” you gesture vaguely, “There is blood dripping into your eye. The bandages are for wherever you’re hurt and the water is to wash off the blood, Valian. You know this, surely.” 

“Oh.” Valian lifts their good hand to their forehead, fingers ghosting over the cut. They wince and their hand falls to their lap. 

They look like they might cry. 

You take a cautious step back. “You’re able to take care of the wounds yourself?” 

Valian viciously wipes at their eyes and nods. Raising their undamaged hand, they manage a thin smile. “There are times when I am grateful for being left-handed.” 

You nod, turning your back to them. “I’ll find some old clothes. It won’t be much. I’m not as prosperous as I was.”

 “Thank you,” Valian whispers, their voice barely louder than the snapping flames. 

You don’t answer. 

Valian unwinds the bandages, then pauses.“Helect? When the Council’s agents arrive…You need not worry about them taking you.” They search for words they don’t want to say. “I will go with them.” 

Not if, but when. 

The Council’s agents are not bound by mortal laws. Three beings paler than death itself, with hands alight with flames and eyes burning white. Valian’s aversion to fire is starting to make sense. 

And they are coming here. 

It takes the better part of an hour before Valian is finished with the bandages, which are badly applied. You still haven't finished wrapping your head around the fact that the Council’s agents are coming to your cabin. 

Valian stands, the white bandages slipping down their right arm already. They hold it with their left hand and bite on the other end to pull it tight.

tagging: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast, @d-cs, @annablogsposts, @sorrowful-hyacinth (lmk if you want to be added or removed!)

#helect cyoa #interactive whump #whump cyoa #whump writing #whump community #fantasy whump #inhuman whumper

[whump-in-the-closet]

1- Not Alone

(I've been reading a few whump cyoa stories and not only are they really good but they look like a lot of fun. So I decided to try it out)

-

The forest is unusually dark tonight. Leaves fall from the trees, spinning in the wind, nothing more than shadowy shapes here and there in the corners of your vision. 

You’re in no hurry as you walk home. You’ve walked this pathway a hundred times, and you hope to do it a hundred more. The forest’s very isolation is a part of its charm. The silence used to be intimidating, but now you find it comforting. 

It wasn’t always like this. You don’t like to remember those times– when you ran from city after city, your mistakes always following close behind, blood on your hands– but you push the thoughts aside and walk a bit faster. 

The wind whistles through the trees, setting your teeth on edge. It’s an unnecessary reaction, one you don’t understand. 

You have to remind yourself that the closest village is outside the forest. You’re alone. It’s impossible for it to be any other way. Impossible, you think as you look over your shoulder. 

All you can see are the branches of the trees. A small creature darts over the path, all bright eyes and red fur. You smile– it’s nothing but a fox. You’re fine. 

You almost miss it at first. 

Something is crouched underneath the trees, and you can see it clearly now. You stumble back, ready to flee at the slightest threat. 

The shape unfolds slowly, eyes peering out from underneath the edge of their hood. Their eyes remind you of the fox’s– bright and untrusting.

In the dark, it’s hard to tell, but they seem familiar. A face from years past, when you had been forced to run…

You recognize them now. They had been a part of the many who had demanded your death, a noble who had laughed at your fall from grace. You’re already looking around for their companion. They never traveled alone– and if one had found you, then their more powerful counterpart was not far off. 

The darkness weighs down on your shoulders, panic building inside you. 

“Helect?" When they call your name, their voice cracks.

#well this was longer than i expected #i was also planning for it to be more villain-whump-ish #but it turned out more on the fantasy side #whump #whump cyoa #fantasy whump #helect cyoa #< thats going to be the tag

[whump-in-the-closet]

5- The Tables Have Turned

previous.

cw: begging, implied torture

-

Valian grabs your leg as they beg for you not to tell the Council. Tears choke their words but you rush to cut off the desperate pleas. 

Exhaustion replaces the anger in your voice. “I won’t tell the Council. Will you stop grovelling?” As soon as you say this, you know it to be false. You would tell the Council in a heartbeat. You just have no way of contacting them. You pause, your stomach clenching at the thought, the floor suddenly spinning– like you’re about to be sick.

 When did you become cruel? 

You don’t like that word. You’re not cruel. You grasp for a word that fits…you’re pragmatic. Logical. If the Council comes looking for Valian, you’re not putting your life on the line for anyone, least of all for someone like Valian. 

You yank your leg out of their now limp grip. There is blood in the shape of handprints on your clothes. 

“How the tables have turned,” you mutter. Once you had been as blood-stained and terrified as Valian is now. It’s disconcerting to see someone else in the same position.

Valian remains on their knees. They don’t seem to hear you. Or to care. A leaf that had been caught in their hair comes loose and floats to the floor. They pick it up, staring at it like the fragile piece of green contains the key to their dignity. 

They suppress a sob. “I…I thank you, Liege Helect. I will not stay long,” they crush the leaf between their fingers, despair thick in their voice. “I will leave before the Council’s agents come for me again.” 

A spark of concern lights a fire of anxiety inside you, eating away at your thoughts. Valian is bad enough, but at least in their current state they can’t hurt you. This does not apply to the Council. 

“How long do you have before they come?” You do not mean to yell at them, but Valian flinches back against the wall. 

“They seem to find me on the third day,” Valian whispers. 

“Always?” 

“Like clockwork, Liege Helect.” 

“I swear–” you break off, exhaling a curse. “Stop calling me that. Liege. It’s not my title anymore.” 

Valian nods quickly.  

You pace the floor, reconsidering the situation. That’s when you notice that Valian can hardly stay upright, exhaustion resting on their shoulders with all the weight of grey-hewed stones. Dried blood clings to their forehead, matted into their hair. Their right hand they hold close to themself, the fingers twisted painfully.

The shadows of the fire flicker across the floor and Valian watches it through narrowed eyes. 

tagging: @kira-the-whump-enthusiast @d-cs @annablogsposts (let me know if you want to be added or removed!)

#helect cyoa #whump cyoa #interactive whump #fantasy whump #noble whumpee